The BIG Question: Pick Your England Squad For Euro 2016

The big(ish) news today is that Roy Hodgson is planning to announce his England squad for Euro 2016 on Thursday, a full three weeks before UEFA’s deadline on 31st May.

Having seen a number of prominent players succumb to injuries over the past couple of weeks, Hodgson is reportedly cobbling together a provisional squad that will include several more players than the 23 he’ll eventually be taking to France in the summer.

Pies thought we’d get a jump on proceedings and rustle up our 23-man pick for Euro 2016 and, injury permitting, it looks a little something like this.

James Milner – Still criminally underrated. He’s not spectacular by any means, but Milner is a fine, versatile footballer with an impressive workrate and a largely unheralded creative streak.

Jordan Henderson (if fit, Michael Carrick if not) – Henderson is basically just the high-end version of that one decent midfielder in your Sunday League side who won’t stop churning away, running and tackling, because he doesn’t drink or smoke 20 Lambert & Butlers a day.

Eric Dier – The roadblock. Every team needs one these days, and Dier’s been up with the best of them this season.

Ross Barkley – He might look dumb as a box of wing-nuts, but Barkley has the drive, vision and fleet footwork to (slightly intermittently) make things happen.

Jack Wilshere – Risky given that he’s mainly held together by sellotape and crossed-fingers these days, but Wilshere still has that little ‘je ne sais quoi’ on the ball in crowded central areas that none of his current England contemporaries can match.

Adam Lallana – At his worst he’s waif-like, brittle and a bit of a non-entity. At his best, he’s capable of wonderful things. Thankfully, coinciding with Liverpool’s new-found effervescence, he’s bang in form at the moment.

Raheem Sterling – In a midfield stable largely devoid of width, Sterling at least tends to commit defenders and win free-kicks as he minces around out on the flanks.

Jamie Vardy – Ditto, though he’ll probably be stationed out on the wing.

Wayne Rooney – For all the opprobrium, Rooney’s actually quite a decent, useful utility player if you don’t go expecting him to start slamming in the 30-yard volleys of yore. Definitely worth having around, despite the hoi polloi narrative.

Daniel Sturridge – He may be entirely self-centred and have complete tunnel-vision in and around the box, but the guy can finish.

Andy Carroll – Supposing Danny Welbeck is ruled out, we’d gladly take Carroll with us – because f**k it, why not? If it all goes south, stick Andy on and sling high balls at his face. It’s the English way.

10Comments

As much as I understand Drinkwater probably doesn’t have as much experience or quality as some of those other midfielders the thought of Wilshere strolling back into that squad drives me crazy. Fu#k it i’d still take Danny. I just wish Kante was English as well. – bias Leicester fan

If Carroll is going, Mark Noble more than deserves a shout. Drinkwater and Danny Simpson deserve a look.

Given the season they’ve had, it’s a pretty damning statement on the quality of Englishmen in the EPL when Everton can put up 3/23 players here…not least when they’ve shipped 52 goals in 36 matches, and 2 of their defenders are in the mix with a shot at starting…might as well bring Shawcross and Dann at this point..

Sick and tired of people confusing a bit of form for actual footballing ability. Noble is on great form but he’s not that good is he. Same for Drinkwater. Whoever is shouting about Albrighton needs to pipe down. I’ll be excited and disappointed when the squad comes out.

I think I would take Rashford, just to give the lad an experience of being in a major tournament squad. The thing we have to remember here is, quite a few of the squad will not even get one minute of time on the pitch. I know he won’t go, though, because Woy will be slammed for taking him just because he plays for United.

What’s the point in ignoring players on good form? Yes wilshere is a much more gifted player than Drinkwater and noble but who is playing better? Same argument as saying take Rooney over vardy as Rooney is a more gifted player but vardy is just in better form. Obviously you take Rooney and vardy but what’s the point taking wilshere when he hasn’t played all season